Hakstol talked about his experience as Flyers head coach the first time we talked, which was the night before his official announcement in late June.
"With every experience, you build from it and grow from it," Hakstol said on a gorgeous Seattle evening. "You learn from both the successes and failures. I really enjoyed my time in Philadelphia. As we went through the process, I felt like we had a lot of success and put the pieces in place.
"In that first job in the NHL as head coach, there are a lot of things I experienced and now can apply. I am thrilled and grateful and confident in the job we can do here in Seattle."
Hakstol's confidence hasn't waned. It seems stronger on the morning of Game 4 of the team's opening five-game road trip than even back on that happy night in June.
"Good to see everybody," said Hakstol, clearly noting Philadelphia reporters in the media room and smiling several times in the six-minute Q-and-A. "It's always nice to come back. I have a lot of great memories here and great friends. Now it flips full circle [with Monday's game just hours away]."
Veteran Kraken players agree that Hakstol is both confident and in control, the latter is a good way.
One example: While mentioning Monday the team won't have practice for seven days, Hakstol nonetheless kept to a schedule of two off-days (one planned, one added) and made one game-day morning skate optional.
Hakstol and his coaches would no doubt like more instruction time about what they have seen and learned in the first three games of the season, but second-time-around Hakstol is not overdoing too soon while equally signaling to his squad he deems them ready to win NHL games.
"We have a veteran group with younger players mixed in," Hakstol said. "It's a smart group. They're pretty perceptive, they understand the different points of the game that we may or may not be at and how to react."
Hakstol appeared to be enjoying the scrum. When a reporter asked about PHI coach Alain Vigneault (the two worked together for a Team Canada world championship tournament], Hakstol drew some laughs.
"I know he likes a good martini," said Hakstol, at ease. "He's very well prepared, very set in his core beliefs and communicates well."
Earlier in the trip, forward Joonas Donskoi was effusive about how much he likes playing for Hakstol and appreciates how he talks straight about the style of play he seeks, that he is open to talking with players one-on-one when needed.
Captain Mark Giordano said he appreciates the straight talk too, that Hakstol is direct and clear and that he and his teammates appreciate that trait.
The locker room, which will include young forward Kole Lind playing his first game for the Kraken, knows the Flyers game means a bit more to their coach.
"Sure it does," said forward Jordan Eberle, a player who is overdue in the goals column with strong analytics so far for creating quality scoring chances. "He has a history here and wants to win. We plan to do everything we can to get a win for him."
"He's a calming presence," said defenseman Jamie Oleksiak, also Monday morning. "He helps us to know what we're doing in situations. He talks about, it's the beginning of the journey."
